Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-18
TERRITORIAL STATISTICS.
Biennial Report Of the Commissioner
of immigration and Sta.
tistics.
A Detailed Statement of the Bush
ness OF the Oflce...Methods
and Means.

AuiiAiA6iatlOu auu oUtlstlcs mas Ueeu 1uIuieHo"
members of the Legislature. 1t makes . vol
ume of e pages, containing numerous tables
under different heads of statistical and general
information. Many of the salient features of
the report are presented in the following OK
tracts, which will prove valuable and interest
ing reading:
Summing up the visible results thus far &C
complished by the Office in it's primary CO.
pacity as a bureau of information, it is found
that during the actual period of a little over
six thousand (G,0W) separate inquiries have
been received by mail, of which number q
very large proportion have represented from
SIX to q dozen or more parties equally inter
ested with the writer in obtaining the Dakota
information sought.
1t is reasonable to say, upon careful refec-
ton, that not less than twenty thousand co.
900 persons have been supplied direct from
this Office with the above Information during
the period stated
This does not include the correspondence
relating to colony projects, of which there has
been considerable, nor does it embrace the dis
tribution Of printed matter through he pas
senger and emigration departments OF the rail-
road companies of the Territory.
The most careful attention has been paidNU
each and every request for information ac-
cording to the ability of the Office, and while
the funds at its disposal have not provided the
amount and variety OF printed and illustrated
matter which was of q. reality impera-
lively demanded, means have been found, as
will BIO further explained, to at least have every
portion of the Territory represented and adj
vertlsed; so that the numerous inquiries made
about nearly every county, separately named,
have been answered with due regard to the
local and general interests to be snbserved.
Every possible and proper assistance has
| been lent all colony projects which have come
within the knowledge of the Office.
Tho colonies which invariably 10 the best
in Dakota, following the experience of West
ern States generally, are those where dlere is
the largest degree of personal freedom and in
dependence. tits on this account that the
smaller colonies frequently prove the harder
and t~firiftier ut the start, on taking root i'll this
free soil.
The Territory of Dakota, with respect more
particularly just at this time to the settlement
Of her free and cheap lands, is engaged in u
vast business enterprise. 1t is manifestly the
part of wisdom to apply to the conduct of the
same those practical business principles which
ordinary commercial experience has demon
strated are the pillars of success.
Out of the appropriation by the Legislature
Of 1900 for the general expenses OF the office
for the two years ending December II, 1856.
there was available for printing and publish
ing purposes strictly not to exceed $3.50
When it is considered that the single edition
Of tho large and handsome pamphlet descrip-
tive of the Territory, prepared under the an
thority of the Governor as an adjunct Of the
Dakota exhibit and display ut tho New Orleans
Exposition of 1SS4-5, cost more than the avail
able publishing fund proper, it may be more
readily understood why the publications is
sued by thiso Office have been so few in num-
Der, and why it was that something more am
bilious and satisfactory could not be under
taken, with respect both to the general de-
scription of Dakota and it's more elaborate pre-
sentation by sections and in geographical di-
visions.
The grand total of the number of copies Of
all pamphlets, circulars and maps handled by
the Office during the past two years amounts
to 10000, Of which l25,NO were official pub
locations; this total including about 10000 doc
uments Of all kinds remaining on hand.
The greater portion of each of the large
issues of the Bulletin have been distributed di-
rectly among the people Of those districts in
the Eastern and Middle States, Canada, and
elsewhere, where the travelling agents OF the
roads interested are making an active cam
paign for Dakota and western immigration.
Considerable quantities of the same product
of the Office have been furnished individuals
engaged in like effective work.
Ih use made of statistical is of
the greatest value, and to all concerned. Not
only does it furnish the best of material for
the substructure of fact and figures on which
the strongest claims of Dakota for immiera-
grafton and new growth may rest, but it is of
the highest consequence and value to the Ter
ritory or State itself, in taking note of its
progress and keeping step, as we may say, IN
the line of counties, which should BIO frequent
ly inspected, efficiently drilled. and by mutual
effortand example brought up i'll the greatest
degree possible to the standard OF proficiency
which marks the highest growth of tho com
monwealth.
The following recommendations and suSges-
lions are respectfully submitted:
The business and responsibility Of collecting
all the county statistics required should be at
taohed to the Office OF record kept by the
County Clerk or Auditor Of each county.
In case a registry of deaths, births and mar
to fix suitable fees for the keeping of the same
in the Clerks Office, and this form of compen-
sation would be adequate for the purpose.
assessors should be required to collect the
agricultural statistics provided for and desig-
mated, at the time of taking the regular annual
assessment, or so nearly as possible, and
make their returns within a specified time to
the County Clerk or Auditor of each organized
county.
There should be provided, according to IL .
county, a certain reasonable compensation for
the extra time and expenses incurred in the
collection of these statistics by the Assessors,
and their compilation by the County Clerk and
Auditor.
SETTLEMENT AMI GROWTH.
The settlement of public lands has been very
satisfactory during the past two years.
The greater number of land entries have
been made in the central and northern portions
of the Territory, although there has been con-
siderable progress along the great highway of
Dakota's marvellous prosperity since 1880 re-
ported in every district, and i'll places, as in
the Black Hills, there has been q remarkable
growth in other ways.
1t may be truly said that the citizenship Of
Dakota consists largely of the best blood that
flows in American veins, which in turn through
the succeeding generations brought to life on
this soil, in this climate, and under these skies,
is to produce the future Dakota type in man
and woman.
It would be we'll and altogether wise, accord
ing to the judgment of the writer, to add a
little to the proportion Of the desirable foreign
element and leaven in our population.
The German will contribute to the love Of
home and liberty, the respect of law, and the
pride of common institutions, in no less degree
than the free-born American himself may
cherish and maintain those fundamental prn-
ciples of onr National Constitution and State
Government.
There remains, according to the latest re-
vised estimates of the Office, bearing date of
December l, 1856, a total vacant area, open to
settlement at this time, of a little over twenty
million (20,00O,OtO) acres Of Government land.
This area is distributed as follows:
Bismarck land district, $780, O ac1cs.